Best Way to Help Your Child to Deal with Bites and Stings

Get medical help at once if an insect bite or sting involves the mouth or throat, or if the child has a serious allergic reaction. Treat for shock if necessary, and give the child an ice cube to suck to minimize swelling.

Bee stings

• Remove the sting with your fingernails or tweezers, or push it out with a needle held flat against the skin. Don’t try to remove the sting if it’s in deep.
• Grasp the sting very close to the skin to avoid breaking the poison sac.
• Apply a cold compress, calamine lotion or a paste made of a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water, or hold the affected area under a cold tap.

Wasp stings

• Don’t bother to look for a sting because a wasp doesn’t leave one in the skin.
• Put some lemon juice, vinegar, crushed onion, surgical spirit or witch hazel on the affected area.

Other insect stings

• Put some calamine lotion, witch hazel, lavender oil or surgical spirit on the skin.
• Antihistamine, taken by mouth as liquid or tablets, or proprietary sting relief creams may help relieve severe itching.

Snake bites

• Immobilize the bitten part and keep it below the level of the heart. Keep the child as still as possible.

• Wash area thoroughly with soap and water.
• Try to remember the appearance of the snake, as this may help medical staff to identify the poison.
• Take the child to hospital immediately or phone for an ambulance.
• Don’t suck the venom out or cut the bite. Don’t put on a tourniquet or apply any medication.

Animal bites and scratches

• Wash the wound thoroughly with soapy water, then dry it.
• Bathe it well with antiseptic solution.
• Apply a dressing if necessary.
• Check that your child’s tetanus protection is up to date.

NB If your child is bitten while outside the UK, see a local doctor immediately about giving him rabies injections.

Jellyfish stings

• Cover your hands with sand and pick off any pieces of jellyfish immediately.
• Apply a soothing lotion, such as witch hazel or calamine.
• If your child shows symptoms other than local itching, consult a doctor.